Quiz machine computer



Aug. 15, 1967 A. R. HEAP 3,335,504

QUIZ MACHINE COMPUTER Filed July l5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 SET LETTER THEN SET NUMBER UVYEN 70R.

ALAN A. new

g- 1967 A. R. HEAP 3,335,504

QUI Z MACHINE COMPUTER Filed July l5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Arron/6 rs Aug. 15, 1967 A. R. HEAP 3,335,504

QUI Z MACHINE COMPUTER Filed July 15, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet V Fi .6.

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196 3 A. R. HEAP 3,335,504

QUIZ MACHINE COMPUTER Filed July l5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet nvvs/vrom AL A u 4 Rap United States Etent C 3,335,504 QUIZ MACHINE COMPUTER Alan Robert Heap, 168 Mimosa Road, Greenacre, New South Wales, Australia Filed July 15, 1965, Ser. No. 472,158 Claims priority, application Australia, July 17, 1964, 47,072/64 12 Claims. (Cl. 359) This invention relates to an educational toy comprising a computer which is adapted to indicate the correctness of answers made to preset questions having related answers.

It is desirable in apparatus of the above kind that it should be capable of operation simultaneously by two or more competitors, especially in those applications where it is desirable that viewers should participate, even vicariously, in a game, such as during the conduct of television quiz programes. It has been found in apparatus constructed for the above purpose that it is difficult to provide a simple reliable system in which there is no distinct pattern of relationship between the problems and the answers so as to prevent a player from either consciously or subconsciously cheating to obtain an unfair advantage. A further disadvantage of known systems in that they do not usually provide an indication of the identity of the competitor who is first to select a correct answer. Furthermore, it is usually necessary for the questions and answers to be printed on especially punched or shaped paper, cardboard, or the like, and ditficulties are usually experienced in synchronising said apparatus with any external question-and-answer material.

It is an object of the invention to overcome the above and other disadvantages.

In accordance with the invention, a devicefor playing competitive games comprises means for coding a set of questions and related answers, means to lock the encoded material in a store, means to conceal from competitors the contents of said store, means for setting the device to a selected question, means for one or more competitors to select individually their choice of a single answer to said question, means to indicate which of said competi tors has selected a correct answer to said question, means for indicating which of all said answers was selected first, and means for preventing the deduction of any discernible pattern of correct answers available in said store.

According to preferred embodiments of the invention it also includes means to lock the device so as to prevent a further answer from being selected by any said competitor.

In one particular embodiment of the invention intended for operating by two competitors, electromechanical storage means are provided, whereby a maximum of four alternative answers per question and a maximum of twenty questions per setting of the device, are provided. This arrangement provides 200 alternative settings, each providing a different series of twenty correct answers.

The above-described embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar references indicate corresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows, in plan view, a device constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIG. 2 shows, in front elevation, a section along the line 22 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows, in plan view, the base plate assembly of the device,

FIG. 4 shows, in elevation, details of the starboard joystick and latch lever mechanism assembly shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 shows, in plan view, a first or bottom scramble plate,

FIG. 6 shows, in front elevation, a section along the line 66 of FIG. 5,

FIG. 7 shows, in plan view, a second or middle scramble plate,

FIG. 8 shows, in front elevation, a section along the line 83 of FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 shows, in plan view, a third or top scramble plate,

FIG. 10 shows, in front elevation, a section along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 shows, in plan view, a scramble plate locking plate having a projecting pin, and

FIG. 12 shows in front elevation a section along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

Upon referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the bottom plate 1 is rotatable about a stepped vertical spigot 2 projecting from the base plate 3, and has moulded on its underside a disc 4 which has one slot 5 which, when engaged with a pin 29 on the slidable spring-loaded locking element 26 locks said bottom plate in a fixed position to allow the rotatable adjustment of the middle and top scramble plates relatively to said bottom plate. The disc 4 also prevents the movement of the locking element 26 to its unlock position unless the bottom plate 1 is in the correct position for setting the device.

Ten equally spaced pairs of slots 9 and pairs of holes 10 are provided near the periphery of the bottom plate 1 for engagement with ratchet pins 15 and 16 moulded in the middle plate 12. It will be seen that the holes 10 and the slots 9 are arranged in alternate pairs. The holes 10 are each flattened on the extreme clockwise edge to enable eflicient ratcheting with the ratchet pins 15 and 16. Various signal holes 13 are also provided in the bottom plate 1 in five sets each of N-E, N-W, S-E and S-W corresponding to the configuration of N, E, S, W apertures shown on the top cover 25. The purpose of these signal holes, together with the peripheral slots 9, will be explained hereinafter.

The middle plate 12 has two groups of five equally spaced and oppositely disposed peripheral slots 14, and ten ratchet pins (not all shown) five of which (such as those shown at 15) engage the bottom plate 1, and five of which (such as those shown at 16) engage the top plate 17. These ratchet pins are so designed that if the bottom plate is held by the locking element 26, and the top plate 17 is manually rotated in a clockwise direction, the middle plate 12 is also rotated, whereas if the top plate 17 is rotated in an anti-clockwise direction, the middle plate 12 remains stationary and is locked to the bottom plate 1.

For setting purposes, twenty letters may be equally spaced as shown on inner and outer pitch circles of the middle plate. This plate also has a series of signal holes 18, arranged in ten alternate N-E-S-W groups, giving in effect ten blank sectors, the other ten alternate sectors thus having five each of N-S and E-W. These signal holes, together with peripheral slots 14 will be explained hereinafter.

The top plate 17 has a knob 19 which projects through the top cover of the device to allow manual rotation of said plate for setting purposes, and has four equally spaced peripheral slots 20 and sixteen holes 21 arranged in equally spaced groups of four near the periphery. The holes 21 are each flattened on the extreme clockwise edge to enable eflicient ratcheting with the ratchet pins 16. Twenty equally spaced and staggered holes 22 are also provided on two pitch circles on the plate 17 as are the two sets of letters of the middle plate 12. At the same pitch circles on the top plate 17, two sets of ten numbers are provided for setting purposes similarly to the letters of the middle plate 12. The top plate 17 is also provided with a series of signal holes 23, and the purpose of these, together with the peripheral slots 20, will be explained hereinafter.

It will be seen that in each of the respective scramble plates 1, 12 and 17 a central hole is provided, having a diameter corresponding with the appropriate step upon the central spigot 2.

The plate 7, which bears the numbers of questions to be asked in a game employing the device, is capable of being set in position by sliding the locking element 26 across the base plate 3 of the device. This plate is springloaded by means of a spring 27 with respect to the locking element 26. That is to say, when the pin 6 is located in slot 24 and held therein while spinning the knob 19 until :pin 29 finds slot 5, the locking element 26 at the same time slides across the base 3 to the right until the counter-sunk holes 31 engage themselves with the balls 30, lowering the plates so that they are free to ratchet, whereupon the apparatus is placed in a settable condition. If after carrying out the above setting operation, pin 28 is held outwards (i.e. to the left) this causes pin 32 of plate 7 to be pushed against the periphery of the plates. It also causes the disengagement of pin 29 from slot in plate 1 and lifts the three plates, locking them together. Having caused the lifting and locking of the plates, pin 28 is held in (i.e. to the right) so that pin 32 searches for a common angular position for one of the peripheral slots in each of the three plates. It does this against spring pressure provided between bracket 33 and locking element 26 via the spring 27. The above-described lifting action is due to the fact that looking element 26 rides up upon the balls 30 to urge the plates closer together, and so locks the ratcheting mechanism as pins and 16 move further into the coacting holes 13 and 21 and the slots 9 and in plates 1 and 17 respectively.

That is to say, the plate 7, which is a disc-like member having a pin 6 adapted to project through the aperture 34 in the top cover for manual adjustment, has also the pin 32 projecting from its lower side so as to engage in common coincident peripheral slots in the scramble plates, so that the device may be left in a locked position during its use by competitors in said game. The plate 7 is also supplied with a window 35 in the top cover 25 which, when said plate is moved to the setting position, exposes one number of the top plate 17 and also one letter of the middle plate 12. Thus, certain setting numbers and letters upon the scramble plates may be exposed whilst the machine is being set, but arrangements hereinafter described are made to cover them again once the set-ting has been made. A further function of the .plate 7 is to display through the window 36 one of the particular question numbers marked on the base of plate 7, said numbers being disposed upon a pitch diameter suitably aligned with said window.

The peripheral slots referred to above are so arranged that for any particular setting of the three scramble plates, there is only one slot in common alignment on each of the three scramble plates, and when the common slots, so disposed, are engaged by the pin 32 on the plate 7, a certain relationship is established between the question numbers on the top cover 25, and the scramble plate assembly. If this arrangement of the peripheral slots were not provided, there would be a fixed relationship between a particular question number and certain signal holes of the scramble plates which would provide the means for a skilled observer or contestant to predict a correct answer.

The signal holes above described are so arranged in the three scramble plates that no matter how the three plates are adjusted relatively to each other, there is for each question setting, only one position wherein one hole in each of the three plates is in common alignment with the others. The device is so arranged that on the completion of both competitors selection of an answer, a lamp 37 automatically shines through these three holes in common alignment, so indicating the correct answer to a particular question. For example, if the three plates are superimposed so that the central set of holes of each plate is disposed as follows:

Bottom plate 1N and E holes, Middle plate 12N, E, S, and W holes, Top plate 17-N and S holes,

it will be seen for this particular setting that the N holes are the only ones in common alignment, and hence N would be the correct solution for this particular scramble plate setting and question number. If the scramble plate assembly is now rotated one question position in a clockwise direction, the signal holes might be disposed as follows;

Bottom plate 1E and 5 holes, Middle plate 12-13 and W holes, Top plate 17N, E, S and W holes.

For this particular setting it will be seen that the E holes are the only ones in common alignment, and hence B would be the correct solution for this particular question.

The actual arrangement of the particular groups of signal holes around each plate in order to obtain the best possible scramble of series of answers is extremely involved, and in fact, the ideal arrangement of these holes could only be achieved by use of a suitable computer, but for all practical purposes, the arrangement of the existing groups of holes is satisfactory.

In use, the apparatus above described is operated by two competitors, each of whom manipulates a joystick such as 38 and 39, respectively located in the gates 40 and 41. Each said joystick rides upon a ball such as 42 so as to be capable of rocking into any one of the four positions N, E, S or W, wherein said joystick comes to rest in its respective gate. The ball is so located in a groove in a spherical base of its associated joystick that the latter is prevented from being moved back to a central position in its gate once it has entered one of the N, E, S or W positions. This is ensured by the fact that one or other of the latching levers 43 or 44 moves upwards in its respective associated slot 45 or 46 immediately after the corresponding joystick in the gate 40 or 41 respectively is thrown. That is to say, immediately after one competitor has made a decision, the device records the fact that he has made his decision first. This is a con sequence of the fact that the speed elements 47 and 48 are each adapted to block the path of the other at the region 53 under spring action after either one of said elements has moved.

If, however, said competitor has selected an incorrect answer, the rationale of the game is such that a subsequent answer by the other competitor receives due credit. But if the competitor who moves first to record a decision happens to choose a correct answer, the credit goes to that competitor, whose answer is indicated when the lamp 37 causes one or other of the apertures marked N, E, S and W to be illuminated on the face of the top cover 25. It is not possible for a further decision to be made by a competitor until his respective latching lever 43 or 44 is reset to the lowermost or Go position shown in FIG. 1.

The electrical circuit components of the device may be constructed in known manner. For example, the lamp 37 may be a pea-lamp or the like, of the kind used in battery operated torches, and may be switched on by two normally closed single pole switches, indicated at 49 and 50, which are adapted to be released as each competitor makes his answer selection. A third normally open push button switch indicated at 51 and operated by button 52, is provided in series with said single pole switches 49 and 50, so that one competitor would need to hold this third switch 51 closed in order to complete the lamp circuit. This is desirable to prevent unnecessary battery discharge and possible accidental indication of correct answers when moving the plate 7 from question to question by rotating the knob 19.

It will be understood that the plate 7, bearing the numbers of the questions, is provided with an opaque band which covers the numbers which would otherwise be visible through the window 35 when the slot-shaped hole 54 has the knob 19 located hard up against the righthand side of said hole. That is to say, the band should be wide enough to extend just beyond the outer pitch diameter of the letters marked upon scramble plate 12.

The typical operation of the device in playing a quiz game will now be described. It is assumed that two competitors are to compete against each other in an attempt to answer correctly the following question (No. l of a set of questions) which is capable of being set into the computer by coding it with, say, the letter K and the number 9:

The capital of Australia is? NCanberra SVienna ECobar WSydney The necessary manipulation of the device takes place as follows:

(1) Pin 6 is moved to the right in slot 24 and held there. Knob 19 is rotated until pin 28 moves to the right. Knob 19 is then turned clockwise until the letter K is visible in window 35. This knob is then rotated anticlockwise until the number 9 is visible in window 35, adjacent to the letter K. The pin 28 is held in the extreme left position and knob 19 is rotated until pin 6 moves into the circular part of the aperture 34. Knob 19 is then rotated until the number 1 is visible through window 36. Latching pins 43 and 44 are reset in the Go position and the joysticks 38 and 39 are moved to their central upright positions, whereupon the device is ready for use by the competitors.

(2) One competitor holds down the Go button 52.

(3) Question No. l and all associated possible answers are simultaneously exposed to both competitors.

(4) Each competitor then moves one of the joysticks either to N, E, S, or W.

(5) Assuming that the starboard competitor moves first and selects N, his pin 43 will go up to the top of the slot 45 and remain there, thus showing that he slected his answer first. At the same time his joystick 38 is locked in the N slot of gate 40.

(6) Assuming that the port competitor then selects N, his pin 44 can only move part of the way along slot 46 and remains there thus showing that he selected his answer second. At the same time his joystick 39 is locked in the N slot of gate 41. Simultaneously with the making of the port competitors choice, the light shines through the N hole in the top cover. In this case, the indications are that both competitors were correct, but that the starboard competitor moved first, and therefore wins.

Assuming now that as a result of step 4, the starboard competitor moves first and selects, say, S. His pin 43 moves up to the top slot 45 and remains there, thus showing that he selected his answer first. At the same time his joystick 38 is locked in the S slot of gate 40.

('8) Assuming that the port competitor moves next, and selects, say, N his pin 44 still moves only partly up slot 46 and remains there, thus showing that he selected his answer second, but the light shines through the N hole in the top cover as before, and despite the fact that the port competitor moved second he wins.

(9) Similar procedures take place, mutatis mutandis, if both the port and starboard competitors has been wrong in choosing their answers. In any case, the device is capable of indicating which competitor, if any, is first to select a correct answer.

Having played question No. 1, the competitors may then prepare for question No. 2 as follows:

(10) Each individual competitor holds his respective latching lever 43 or 44 downwardly in the bottom of slot 45 or 46, respectively whilst placing his joystick 38 or 39 in an upright position, so latching the levers 43 and 44 in the Go position.

'(11) Knob 19 is rotated until the number 2 appears through the window 36.

(12) One competitor holds down Go button 52.

(13) Question No. 2 and its related answers are simultaneously exposed to both competitors.

(14) The device is now ready for use in a manner similar to that employed answering question No. 1, above, and so on mutatis mutandis for the answering of up to twenty questions before it is necessary to reset the device for a further set of questions.

I claim:

1. A device for playing competitive games comprising in combination, means for coding a set of questions and related answers, a store, means to lock the encoded material in said store, means to conceal from competitors the contents of said store, means for setting the device to a selected question, means for two competitors to select individually their choice of a single answer to said question, means to indicate which of said competitors has selected a correct answer to said question, means for indicating which of all said answers was selected first, means for indicating an incorrect answer if registered second to a correct answer, and means for preventing the deduction of any discernible pattern of correct answers available in said store.

2. A device for playing competitive games as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising means to lock the device so as to prevent a further answer from being selected by a competitor who has already selected an answer.

3. A device for playing competitive games as claimed in claim 1, wherein said store comprises an electro-mechanical device.

4. A device for playing competitive games as claimed in claim 1, wherein said store comprises a plurality of mutually rotatable perforated plates adapted to be adjusted angularly with respect to each other so that for each said question, the device possesses a setting wherein one aperture in each of said plates is in common alignment with an aperture in the others, and wherein the selection of an answer by a competitor causes a light to shine through the aligned apertures, said setting thereby indicating that the selected answer to said question is correct in terms of some predetermined scheme.

5. A device for playing competitive games as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for resetting the device after its operation to answer at least one question, whereby said device is again adapted to respond to the selection of answers to present questions, and wherein a suitable indication is provided by said device to indicate to competitors that the reset condition has been reached.

6. A device for playing competitive games as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means which are normally inoperative but which must be operated by at least one of said competitors in order to activate said means which indicate which of said competitors has selected an answer to one of said questions.

7. A device for playing competitive games, comprising in combination, means operable by each of two competitors to select individually each said competitors choice of a single answer to a question having a plurality of answers, means to indicate which of said competitors has selected a correct answer to said question, means for indicating which of all said answers was selected first, means for indicating an incorrect answer if registered second to a correct answer, and means for preventing the selection of a further answer by a competitor who has already selected an answer.

8. A device for playing competitive games as claimed in claim 8, wherein said device is adapted to be operated by two competitors.

9. A device for playing competitive games as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for indicating which of said answers was selected first comprises a pair of individually movable elements, the initial movement of one of which in response to the selection of an answer by a first competitor causes said element to occupy a position in which it blocks the path, at least in part, of the other element when the latter is operated by a second competitor.

10. A device for playing competitive games as claimed in claim 8, wherein means are provided which indicate to both said competitors the fact that a second competitor has selected an answer after the first of said competitors has already selected an answer.

11. A device for playing competitive games as claimed in claim 10, wherein said indicating means comprises a lamp circuit adapted to be closed by the operation of the answer selection means by a second competitor.

12. A device for playing competitive games as claimed in claim 9, wherein said elements are provided with locking means so that following their initial movement, they are not capable of subsequent movement by operation of the answer selection means unless said elements are reset to a zero position wherein said device is adapted for response to a further question by both said competitors.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,591,327 4/1952 Witter et a1 359 2,654,163 10/1953 Reynolds 35-9 2,871,577 2/1959 Davis 3S9 EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

R. WEIG, Assistant Examiner. 

